Apparatus adapted for lighting the ground and for aircraft signals



Oct 23, 1934- M. c. M. EXELMANS 1,977,673

APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR LIGHTING THE GROUND AND FOR AIRCRAFT SIGNALS Filed Jan. 10. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY Exelmans ATTORNEY Ma rz'e Charles Mal/rite -23,1 34 M.C.M;EXELMANS -1, 11 61 APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR LIGHTING THE GROUND AND FOR AIRCRAFT SIGNALS Filed Jan. 10. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Harte Charles Maw Lac Exelmans ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 23, 1934 1,977, 73" Arram'rns ADAPTED FORLIGHTING THE GROUND AND.FOR AraoaAFT SIGNALS Marie Charles Maurice Exelmans, Neuilly-sur- Seine, France, assignor to Holophane Company, lino, New York, N; Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 10, 1931, Serial No. 507,871 In France January 14, 1930 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combined apparatus adapted for the lighting of roads or of aircraft grounds or other relatively large areas, and serving at the same time as a line-indicating signal for aircraft by means of light which is upwardly directed.

The apparatus according to the invention essentially comprises, in combination with an illuminant, a lens or other optical element, clear or colored, adapted to concentrate the light received directly from the illuminant into a relatively narrow beam which is upwardly directed, and a reilecting or refracting element adapted to send another portion of the light from the lamp in the downward direction for the lighting of the ground or roads upon a relatively wide area and in any desired directions. In this manner a single illuminant serves for the lighting of the ground and also as a line-indicating signal for aircraft.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, several embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of luminair employing an upright lamp bulb and refractor;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a luminair employing an enclosing envelope and outer reflector; and

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form designed to employ a pendant lamp bulb.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lamp is surrounded by a refractor 2, such as used in street lighting. This refractor has an outer protective envelope and an inner refracting bowl and acts on the rays proceeding from the lamp to send them out in the form of a widely open beam which lights the ground in the neighborhood of the apparatus. The light may be distributed uniformly in all directions about the axis of the apparatus, or by employing an asymmetric refractor a more intense light may be sent in certain directions, for instance for the lighting of roads. The retracting 4 element 2 supports the lamp socket S and lamp 1.

It is in turn supported by a lower horizontal ring 3 secured to an upper ring 3. The upper ring 3' is apertured as indicated and carries a condensing lens 4 with its focus at the light center of the bulb 1. This lens intercepts the upper cone of light and concentrates it into an intense vertical beam adapted to be projected toward the zenith to provide a beam which can be picked up by aircraft. The ring 3' may be supported as shown in Fig. 1 by means of suspension rods 5 at each (Cl. 240-l.2)

side. These are supported by a tube 6 slidable on a supporting cross-bar 6a, mounted on the current supply cables '7'7. The lamp is connected in by the flexible conductors 8-8.

Fig. 2 relates to a similar device, but in this case the refracting element 2 is replaced by a reflector 2a which serves the same general purpose and sends a part of the light from the lamp to the ground.

Fig. 3 shows another modification, and herein the lamp is not in the upright position with its socket at the bottom, but is downwardly suspended with the socket at the top, and herein the lens 1a is apertured at the center for the insertion of the socket, and the annular portion of the lens reoeives the light from the lamp and retracts it into a beam of parallel or closely-spaced rays. The lens 4a is supported on a ring 9 which is carried by the suspension rods 5. The lens 4a supports the socket S and supply wires 8 as indicated, and the ring 9 supports a reflector 2a like that shown in Fig. 2. The pendant bulb may be employed with a refractor (such as refractor 2 of Fig. 1) by providing a refractor support similar to that of Fig. 1.

Obviously, the construction of the upper lens, and of the said reflector or lower refracting element, may vary within wide limits, as well as the assembling means and the details of construction, without departing from the spirit of the in- 5 vention.

I claim:-

1. A luminair having suspension devices adapted to support it from an over head power line, a horizontal ring secured to the suspension devices, a condensing lens covering the aperture of the ring, a lamp bulb with its filament at the focus of the lens, and an optical element supported from the ring and acting on light below the lens to direct it in a widely extended beam for lighting the ground.

2. A luminair having suspension devices adapted to support it from an over head power line, a horizontal ring secured to the suspension devices,

a condensing lens covering the aperture of the ring, a lamp bulb with its filament at the focus of the lens, and a refractor supported from the ring and acting on light below the lens to direct it in a widely extended beam for lighting the ground. I05

3. A luminair having suspension devices adapted to support it from an over head power line, a horizontal ring secured to the suspension devices, a condensing lens covering the aperture of the ring, a lamp bulb with its filament at the of the lens, an enclosing envelope about the lamp bulb and supported from the ring, a lamp socket supported from the envelope and carrying the lamp bulb, and an optical element supported from the ring and acting on light below the lens to direct it in a widely extended beam for lighting the ground.

5. A luminair as in claim 4 characterized in that the light controlling element is in the form of a reflector outside the envelope.

MARIE CHARLES MAURICE EXELMANS. 

